Resources for Children with Autism on the Treasure Coast

If you’re looking for resources for children with autism right here in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties, you’ve landed in the perfect spot—our guide is all about helping you navigate the journey with love and support!

We know how overwhelming it can feel to find the right help for your little one, so we’ve rounded up the best local options, from ABA therapy centers to at-home support, plus tips on where to start and benefits you might tap into through the state of Florida.

This post is sponsored by Brain Balance of Palm Beach Gardens 

Brain Balance of Palm Beach Gardens is the leading drug-free program designed to help children and adults improve focus, behavior, social skills, anxiety, and academic performance.

They pick up where conventional approaches leave off, going beyond the treatment of symptoms to address root causes.

They offer in-home programs or you can attend the program a their center on Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens. The flexibility, holistic approach, and results make this program stand out! Check them out to learn more.

Getting Evaluated

Let’s dive into the resources that’ll make a difference for your family.

Sometimes the first step is receiving an evaluation. This can allow you to qualify for different benefits such Occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and ABA therapy.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a behavioral therapy used to help individuals, especially those with autism and other developmental disorders, learn new skills, improve social interactions, and reduce challenging behaviors through positive reinforcement and other evidence-based techniques

Your child’s pediatrician screens for autism at their wellness checks through a screening tool called the MCHAT.

If there are concerns, they may refer you for an evaluation done by a neuropsychologist. Qualified personnel at ABA centers can also diagnose autism.

If you want to pursue an evaluation, try As You Are.As You Are is a virtual clinic that offers virtual diagnostic evaluations for kids. They are a team of physicians who specialize in guiding families along their autism journey.

Where to Start: A Guide for Treasure Coast Families

Wondering “where do I begin for autism support on the Treasure Coast?” Start with the Treasure Coast Autism Resources website (tcautismresources.com), a local gem created by Rachel Tuthill, a mama with two kids on the spectrum—she’s been there and gets it!

This site lists providers, programs, and community support tailored to our area, helping you find exactly what your child needs, whether it’s therapy or social skills groups.

Another great first step is the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) (florida-card.org), which offers free consulting, training, and family support across the Treasure Coast .

Call to register and get a welcome packet to kick things off!

ABA Therapy Centers for Kids

For Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, you’ve got some stellar options right here!

Hope Center for Autism– Public charter school for students in PreK – 8th grade who are eligible for ESE

Florida Autism Center – Port St. Lucie (bluesprigautism.com) on SW Okeechobee Rd is a top pick in St. Lucie County, offering compassionate, evidence-based ABA therapy with a team of board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) to help your child with communication, social skills, and behavior goals—mamas rave about how it’s transformed their kiddos’ lives!

ABA Centers of Florida (abacentersfl.com) serves all three counties with personalized care, focusing on reducing disruptive behaviors through play-based therapy. Call (772) 773-1975 to find a location near you.

Treasure Coast ABA (treasurecoastaba.com) in Palm City provides services for kids from birth to 21. This is a center-based after-school program and in-home options—perfect for fitting into your family’s routine.

At-Home Therapy Options

Prefer therapy at home? Florida Autism Center – Port St. Lucie offers in-home ABA services, tailoring therapy to your child’s daily environment—great for building skills in a familiar setting.

ABA Centers of Florida also provides in-home therapy, involving the whole family in the process to ensure everyone’s on the same page.

For broader support, Autism Services of FL (autismserviceoffl.com) delivers personalized ABA therapy at home, focusing on empowering your child to hit meaningful milestones while offering compassionate guidance for parents—because your family’s journey is unique!

State of Florida Benefits for Families

Florida has some awesome benefits to help ease the financial load!

The Family Empowerment Scholarship (via organizations like A.A.A. Scholarship Foundation, aaascholarships.org) covers ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and more for kids with autism, ages 3-22—perfect for customizing your child’s support.

Florida’s Medicaid iBudget Waiver, run by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD, apd.myflorida.com), offers funding for ABA, respite care, and other services—call (866) 273-2273 to find your local APD office and apply.

Traditional Medicaid also covers ABA for kids under 21 if medically necessary, so check with your provider to see if you qualify!

Community Resources for Children with Autism on the Treasure Coast

The ARC of the Treasure Coast (arctreasurecoast.org), a merger of the ARC of Martin and St. Lucie Counties, is a powerhouse for support, offering programs, advocacy, and social skills groups for kids and adults with autism—serving from Vero Beach to Palm Beach Gardens.

Socially Synced aims to bring families together so that
kids with minds of all kinds can play and be themselves! Bring your friends & connect with other parents and
families. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.